Picture this… you’re outdoors stalking wild game with your handy camera-ready by your side. It’s been a while since you’ve been on the lookout for prey, and you’re growing wary. Just then, when you’re on the verge of giving up, you spot exactly what you’ve been waiting for all this time: the perfect game!
With quick reflex, you look towards your trail camera to see if it captured your prey…only to find that the device is dead and all out of battery power.
Now snap back to reality: you’re not on the hunt, but instead, you’re here reading this article. Luckily, you still have a chance to save yourself from the unfortunate scene described above.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret that could change the way you approach the game: most professional trail shooters have given up on battery-powered trail cameras and switched over to their superior solar-powered counterparts.
Having a camera that can easily recharge itself through sunlight (a virtually non-depletable energy source) certainly has its perks!
When making your selection among solar trail cameras, prioritize factors like trigger speed and image quality. Opt for a rapid trigger speed to prevent motion blur, and ensure that the image quality remains high even in low-light conditions.
Advanced models boast an impressive trigger speed as quick as 0.3 seconds and have the capability to capture video in 1080p resolution or higher.
If you’re seeking the ultimate solar-powered trail camera offering extended battery life and exceptional image quality, it’s essential to take into account the detection range and video resolution as well.
In this article, I plan on walking you through some of my favorite solar-powered game cameras. All of them are excellent options, but if I had to pick my absolute favorite, I’d go for the ECO Solar Trail Camera.
With a 16 MP camera, 1080p video resolution, 1500 mAh solar power storage capacity, and a trigger range of 82 feet, the ECO Solar Trail Camera takes the cake! It is hands down the most commendable solar-powered game camera I have come across to date.
Solar Game Camera Comparison
| Product | Camera Resolution | Video Resolution | Trigger Range | LED Lights for Night Shots | Waterproof? |
| ECO Solar Trail Camera | 16 MP | 1080p | 82 feet | 46 | Yes |
| Campark Trail Camera | 16 MP | 1080p | 65 feet | 42 | Yes |
| SPYPOINT-W Solar Game Camera | 12 MP | 720p | 90 feet | 42 | No |
| My Animal Command Solar Powered Trail Camera | 16 MP | 1080p | 65 feet | 24 | Yes |
Solar Trail Camera Benefits
As explained above, the worst thing that can happen to a trail hunter is spotting an ideal game, only to find their camera has run out of power. If you’re a fan of scouting for game, you must already be familiar with how often this happens.
To avoid this problem, many people have switched over to solar-powered cameras.
There are many undeniable benefits of owning a solar-powered game camera. Firstly, as opposed to their battery-powered counterpart, solar cameras have the ability to recharge themselves.
All that’s required from your end is the guarantee of sufficient sunlight, and you can leave the rest for the camera to handle by itself.
As a result, your camera is highly unlikely to ever run out of battery, especially considering how hunting is often done during the daytime; your camera is bound to always find itself surrounded by enough sunlight to satiate its recharging needs.
Secondly, if you’re environment-conscious (as we all should be), then you’ll know that solar power is a renewable resource and doesn’t have as harsh an impact upon the environment as batteries do. Solar power is eco-friendly, but batteries are not. If at all possible learn how to refurbish your batteries, and it will save you some money.
So, if you’re looking for a way to conserve the planet’s limited natural resources, getting yourself a solar-powered camera is an excellent place to start.
If you’re looking to buy a powerful solar-powered game camera right now, you’re in the right place! Here are four of my favorite picks…
Top 4 Solar Powered Game Cameras
ECO Solar Trail Camera (Editor’s Choice)
1. ECO Solar Trail Camera – The ECO solar trail camera offers high-quality photography thanks to its 16 MP camera. It also boasts an excellent resolution for video recordings (1080p). This camera has a remarkable triggering distance too (82 ft). It has IR LEDs and a stunning 65 ft flash range.
What sets this camera apart from the others mentioned here is its lightweight. The ECO solar trail camera weighs just 2.57 pounds, making it remarkably easy to move around with.
Its trigger distance is also above average at 82 feet, making it a superior product indeed.
Features and Benefits:
- 16 MP camera resolution
- 1080p video recordings
- Maximum 0.6 second trigger time
- 82 ft trigger distance and 65 ft flash scope
- Night vision enabled
- 120-degree wide-angle for specialized wildlife photography
- 2.4 inch wide LCD screen, allowing you to clearly see what you’ve captured
- This camera is waterproof, too, meaning that you don’t have to worry about getting it wet when trekking through wet terrains (across rivers, for example)
- It also sports HD resolution and remarkable sound quality
- This camera has a 120 degree PIR sensor (highly sensitive)
- It has an internally fitted 1500 mAh solar charger battery. The solar panel is designed to contain a safeguard circuit, meaning that the power will automatically cut off as soon as the battery is fully charged. There is virtually no risk of the device overcharging, heating up, and damaging itself.
- This device also comes with a 1 year-long free warranty
Campark Trail Camera (Runner up)
2. Campark Trail Camera – This is another one of my favorite cameras on the market. It is easily available and has plenty of admirable features, including being waterproof and possessing activated thermal sensing.
It has not one but 3 sensors to help trigger the hunting camera as soon as it senses motion in the vicinity. This is perhaps the Campark trail camera’s best feature.
Features and Benefits:
- 3 passive infrared sensors (motion triggered)
- 1080p video resolution for crisp recordings (full HD mode)
- 16 MP camera for sharp images
- 65 ft trigger range
- 46 LED lights for nighttime flash
- Thermal sensing in low light conditions
- Equipped with 42pcs infrared LEDs to aid in night shooting
- This camera’s 120-degree wild angle lens makes it perfect for shooting wildlife portraits
- It is also waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about leaving your camera outdoors for the ideal rainy weather wildlife shot
- This camera comes with an external solar panel. The panel is small in size, so you don’t have to worry about dealing with bulky objects. The panel’s solar power bank has a staggering power capacity of 3000 mAh (which is double the capacity of the product mentioned above!)
Spypoint Solar Game Camera
3. SPYPOINT-W Solar Game Camera – The SPYPOINT-W solar game camera is one of the best game cameras you’ll ever come across. Thanks to its built-in solar panel, you’ll never have to worry about whether or not your device is fully charged.
It also has a 0.3-second trigger speed! Yes, that’s right – 0.3 seconds is possibly one of the fastest trigger speeds you’ll ever see in any camera.
Despite its many pros, it should be noted that this camera offers what any 720p camera would offer in terms of video quality. The video quality is decent but not as good as a 1080p camera. However, this product does have the ability to click images very fast, so I’ll give it props for that.
Features and Benefits:
- 12 MP camera with 720p video resolution
- 90 ft trigger range
- Reliable solar panel (batteries available separately if you want to use those instead of the solar panel)
- Contains 42 low-glow LED lights to illuminate nighttime shots with notable efficiency
- This camera offers a remarkably fast trigger speed of just 0.3 seconds. Its recovery time is 0.6 seconds, which is also equally commendable.
- Thanks to its built-in solar panel, this device is virtually immortal and can go on forever (as long as it receives a healthy supply of sunlight during the daytime hours!)
My Animal Command Trail Camera
4. My Animal Command Solar Powered Trail Camera – This is another excellent trail camera. You just can’t go wrong with a product from My Animal Command. The company has been mass-producing game cameras and related gadgets for many years now. Its product designers have become well-versed with market demands, hence allowing them to curate a product that fulfills every game hunter’s wildest dreams.
If you prize reliability above all else in a product, you should seriously consider buying this one.
This device has a 65-foot triggering distance. While it may not be as high as the ranges of some of the other devices mentioned on here, it certainly is a healthy range, so you won’t have to worry about missing out on precious wildlife shots.
Features and Benefits:
- 0.5 second trigger time
- 12 MP images in HD quality
- Remarkable sound quality
- 2.4 inch screen with 262k color grading
- 90 degree sensor detection
- Waterproof IP66 protection, allowing you to leave the camera out in the rain
- This device sports a fascinating time-lapse recording feature that is absent from most game cameras
- It also has an auto IR filter lens, allowing you to get the best shots without compromise
- This device uses the standard SD card design as opposed to micro SD cards, which can sometimes be a hassle to purchase and keep track of
There are many excellent trail cameras out there, but these ones are my absolute favorites. If you’re considering purchasing a game camera soon, you may want to take a closer look at the features. Here’s a table that can help make this easier for you:
It’s important to understand what you want in a device before investing in one. You can use the guide above to help you find a camera that’s just right for you!
Solar Game Camera Placement
During the spring and summertime getting enough sun on the solar panels shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Obviously, you’ll need to make sure the panels are getting as much sun as possible, but even if they are getting a little bit of shade throughout the day, they’ll still be fine.
It would be dismissive to assume the solar panels will get full sun all day long. Depending on the mode you have the solar game trail camera on, it will help preserve the battery life.
During the winter when there isn’t as much sun available, try to position the game cameras in a southern-facing direction. Again, getting the solar panels to collect as much sun as possible will ensure the most power to the rechargeable batteries.
If you’re attaching to a tree, the lower on the trunk will help get maximum exposure without limbs, leaves, and branches blocking the solar collectors. If you’re placing the solar game camera higher up, you might pick a spot that is getting the most sunlight through the branches. Just partial sunlight should be enough to operate the camera to it’s fullest function. Read the specifications to see how much sun is needed for each specific camera.
Solar Trail Camera Buying Guide
Game Detection
The solar game camera needs to be able to pick up movement so that it can capture the game. Different solar game cameras have different detection distances, so pick one that is suitable for the specific area, and the game you’re looking at. the camera’s sight must be taken into account in order to obtain the most accurate and useful footage.
When it comes to detection you need to take into account other game that could get pictured or recorded. The greater the distance detection, the more “useless” pictures or videos your camera might pick up. This can use up battery and memory. Take this into consideration when selecting a solar game trail camera.
Nighttime or Flash
Picking up game at night will be important. Trail cameras offer three kinds of flash: white, which is becoming increasingly rare; “red” or “low-glow” infrared; and “black” or “no-glow” infrared. The infrared options are by far the most popular because they are much less likely to startle the animals being photographed. Low-glow flashes operate just above the visible spectrum (at a wavelength somewhere around 732nm) so they do emit some light at the source, but not much, and while there is a chance it will spook the game, it also produces better photos.
Weather Durability
The solar game camera is going to be outside, so it needs to be able to withstand the elements. If you’re in an area that is high in humidity and rain, make sure you’re getting one that can stand the elements. Some of the lower-priced cameras might save you a bit of money but they might require more maintenance and upkeep. This can cause more headaches that you don’t need.
Wrapping up Solar Game Camera
Since scouting is a very important tactic to your hunting success having a trail game camera in your arsenal can only help you in your hunting adventures. A solar game camera will give you eyes while you’re not there and it will save you money. Reducing your carbon footprint is an added bonus too.
Since these are all solar-powered, you don’t have to worry about scenting your spot from swapping out batteries, especially if you’re setting up your game camera close to your stand. Let these solar trail cameras do all the hard work, so you can mount a trophy on your wall!